NT tourism: Don't say you'll never, never know

The Northern Territory Government has scrambled to clarify its position on a planned shake-up of tourism agencies.

It follows 24 hours of confusing and sometimes contradictory statements about the future roles of the current Tourism NT and a promised NT Tourism Commission, as existed before the election of a Labor government 11 years ago.

On Thursday, Treasurer Robyn Lambley said Tourism NT chief executive John Fitzgerald would be "departing" when his current contract expires in December.

But Mr Fitzgerald sent an email to all Tourism NT staff last night saying he has not been sacked and had not resigned.

Staff from the office of Chief Minister Terry Mills office have now confirmed that Mr Fitzgerald will hold his position until December when he will be replaced as head of Tourism NT by Tony Mayell.

Mr Fitzgerald will then be offered a "slightly different" senior role with a government tourism agency.

Tourism NT will not be abolished but a separate NT Tourism Commission will be established.

The current Northern Territory Advisory Board will be abolished.

Tourism NT will relocate to Alice Springs.

Tourism Minister Matthew Conlan had flagged that the bulk of operations for the two separate tourism agencies will be moved from Darwin to Alice Springs later this year.

Mr Conlan's seat is based in Alice Springs.

An airline executive has been named as the future head of the Tourism Commission.

Mr Mills says the yet to be established Commission will be chaired by AirNorth chief executive Michael Bridge.

The Chief Minister says he expects most of the 94 NT Tourism staff will be offered the opportunity to relocate to the Red Centre town.

He says those who do not want to move will be helped to find other jobs.

Unions say the Government decision to relocate tourism agency operations has been made without consultation.

United Voice branch secretary Matthew Gardiner says the announcement has shocked workers and it will be a very expensive move.

"A lot of things are happening without letting people know what's going on," he said.

"One thing that is really surprising is that all these announcements are being made, saying that cost isn't a factor.

"Yet, at the same time, we've got an inquiry going into the funding of the NT, which won't report back for six months."

A Top End tourism operator says the plan to move Tourism NT to Alice Springs has not been properly thought through.

Nightcliff Markets co-ordinator Ross Dudgeon used to run the Mindil Beach markets, which attract tens of thousands of tourists.

He says the agency is based in Darwin because most tourism business is done in the Top End.

"Most of the tourism is in the Top End whether the Government likes it or not," he said.

"Kakadu, Litchfield Park, in and around Darwin.

"Just think of the travelling those executives are going to have do from Alice Springs back up here because it's not all technology, there's a lot of one-on-one consultation."

You have no doubt been hearing a lot about the Paris Agreement and know that it pertains to climate change, but are too embarrassed at this stage to ask for an overall explanation of what it's all about.